Interim NAM president for unity

Newly-appointed Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) interim-president Vitumbiko Gubuduza says her committee will strive to unify the netball fraternity and make the sport a winning brand.

The Blantyre and Districts Netball League (BDNL) chairperson said this yesterday after accepting her appointment during a meeting which the Malawi National Council of Sports held with NAM regional and district committee chairpersons at the Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe.

The meeting was aimed to chart NAM’s future following the resignation of the Abigail Sharif-led executive committee a few days ago.

Said Gubuduza: “We have work to do and our job is to make sure that netball wins and thrives. It is also important to unify the netball fraternity.”

The lawyer, who works as NBS Bank head of compliance, said she will meet with fellow executive committee members to discuss the next step and will provide feedback at the appropriate time.

“But clearly, there will be a number of action plans to be worked on in the short, medium and long-terms,” she said.

Gubuduza, who contested for the NAM vice-general secretary post in the 2021 election, will lead the association for a year with the support of interim general secretary Yamikani Kauma, treasurer Cecilia Mtukule-Bondwe and committee members Tamara Fweta, Fernando Ligola, Justice Katika and Margret Maluwa.

On his part, Sports Council chief executive officer Henry Kamata yesterday said they could not comment on the latest developments until the Council’s board sits down to finalise the process.

A few days ago, the immediate-past NAM executive committee stepped down following concerns its affiliates raised in a petition submitted last month.

In their petition, the affiliates, among others, pointed at the committee’s failure to fulfill promises made ahead of the 2021 NAM elections, including securing additional sponsorship, setting up developmental structures and ensuring transparency and accountability.

In a letter dated May 30 2024, signed by the entire former executive committee and addressed to Sports Council, the leadership stated that having critically examined the concerns “and acting in good faith for the sake of netball, the ex-co decided to step down from office with immediate effect”.